Moisture eliminator



J. H GERHARDT ET AL April 26, 1938.

MQISTURE ELIMINATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11. 1930 I i/ofin GER/{4R0 r. fl I WI REN W MUM/ma y Ct mwmpsrm Q 1 AQMW H. GERHARDT ET AL April 26', 1938.

MOISTURE ELIMINATOR Filed Dec. 11. 1950 2 Shegts-Sheet 2 '4' 62705 5. DEM/ ame Patented Apr. 26, 1938 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOISTURE ELIMINATOR John H. Gerhardt, Warren W. Williams, and Clyde B. Dempster, Beatrice, Nebn, assignors to Dempster Mill Manufacturing 00., Beatrice, Nebn, a corporation of Nebraska Application December 11, 1930, Serial No. 501,610

13 Claims. (01. Mid- 1) s vent on relates to a means for preventcated mechanisms of the kind to which we above ing the accumulation of moisture within an enrefer to prevent the accumulation of moisture closure and has special reference to a means for therein. use in connection with an enclosure for auto- Another object of this invention is to provide matically lubricated mechanisms for preventing an insulating material so arranged in an enclo- 5 an accumulation of moisture therein to emulsify sure of the type hereinbefore referred to as Will with the oil. prevent the condensation of moisture on that part More particularly, this invention relates to a of the casing to which it is attached. ventilating means so constructed and arranged Other objects and advantages will be herein- '10 on a casing for enclosing an automatically lubriafter more particularly pointed out and for a 1n cated mechanism as to maintain the pressure and more complete understanding of the charactertemperature on the inside thereof substantially istic features of this invention reference may be uniform with that of the outside atmosphere and had to the following description when taken toto a means so arranged Within the casing as to gether with the accompanying drawings, in which collect any condensate on the walls thereof and latter: 15

direct the same outwardly therefrom. Figure 1 is a top plan View of the device incor- Several types of automatically lubricated mechporating the features of this invention;

anisms wherein this device wouldprove a mate- Fig. 2 is a side elevational view with a portion rial benefit include pumping jacks, Working thereof broken away of Figure 1;

heads, automatic water systems, windmills or Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on 20 any other mechanism'which it is necessary to the line 3-3 of Figure 1; operate out in the open and perhaps a distance Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view taken on the removed from direct supervision by an operator. line 44 of Fig. 3; For purpose of illustration only we have chosen Fig. 5 is a plan sectional View taken on the 5 wherein the enclosure is practically complete struction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, this a windmill. In this case the Windmill is mounted line 55 of Fig. 2, showing the attachment of 25 as to be inconvenient to service. Wherein a windthe ventilator means to the cover;

mill is used the location of the ventilating device Fig. 6 is an end elevational View of a fragmust be taken into consideration as will be exmentary portion 0f e pp r 01 f the O plained later. The windmill chosen for illustrashown in Fig. 2, illustrating another type of vention happens to be of the open-top housing type tilator means; and 30 in which the enclosure is completed by a hood Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan View of the upper or cover of the conventional design. The prinportion of the cover showing still another form ciples of this invention are just as readily appliof ventilator means.

cable to an enclosure of the integral cast type Referring now more particularly to the conwithin itself. invention has been illustrated in connection with Mechanisms of this kind are subjected to most the operating mechanism for a Windmill and insevere pressure and temperature changes thereby cludes the open-top housing I8 and a cover I! causing moisture to collect in the interior of the for enclosing the open top. These members en- 0 enclosure and in a normal mechanism to enter close the automatically lubricated operating 40 the oil and cause premature deterioration of the mechanism for a windmill, although, of course, it lubricant. It is possible to prevent the formais to be understood that the adaptation of this tion of certain of these forms of water under cerinvention to that specific use is for illustrative tain conditions and it is further possible to divert purposes only and it Will be well within the scope moisture so that it will not enter the oil. This, of one skilled in the art to accommodate its use 5 of course, is desirable and is the end to which to any automatically lubricated mechanism this invention is directed. wherein it is desirableto prevent the accumula- It is one of the objects of this invention to tion of moisture within the enclosure for the provide an apparatus for ventilating an enclomechanism and thereby to prevent the premature sure for automatically lubricated mechanisms of deterioration of the lubricant. 50 the character indicated above to prevent the ac- The housing 'H] is so designed as to provide a. cumulation of moisture therein. reservoir for containing a substantial supply of Also, it is an object of this invention to prolubricant, which lubricant is conveyed to the vide an apparatus for diverting the moisture from various parts of the operating mechanism, briefly 5 5 the oil in an enclosure for automatically lubridescribed hereinafter. A tubular extension I2 extends from'one side of the housing and is pref- V erably integrally formed therewith for supporting a wind wheel shaft l3 upon which latter the wind wheel is mounted Where a vane is employed,

l the'housing is provided with bearing members 14 upon which the vane is movably mounted.

, In the particular embodiment shown, the

mechanism within the housing comprises a pair of pinions wand 16 fixedly mountedron the wind wheel shaft Band is engaged by gears 11 and I8,

respectively, which latter are rotatably supported beingfpivotally supported on agpin aldextending thehousing l6, l I, of course, is to keepout the rain and dirt from through the cross head. The cross head 2711 vertically reciprocates upon a pair of guide rods and '26, both rods being threaded into the main frame ill and connected at their upper'ends by a spacing bracket 21, which latter bracket serves as a means by which the cover l I is fastened to The main purpose of the cover 7 "the mechanism in the housing I!) and to prevent a loss of the lubricant from the housing and it is g the purpose of this invention to prevent the cond-ensation of atmosphere within the enclosure provided'byithe housing Illfand cover ll due to the changing'temperatures and pressures which form water or water vapor or suchphenomena are commonly-known as sweating or frosting.i- The cover l I is shown as being of a substantial height to enclose mechanisms extending a distance above the housing, although in 'many instances this cover is merely'a' substantially flat cap as where.

the mechanism iis included in its entirety'in the housing, .7 Y r In order to maintain the pressure and temperature on the insideiof the cover; and housing. subs stantially uniform with that of the outside at- 1 mosphere, a ventilating means is employed'such' j as is shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the means preferably comprising a tube 28. having the outer walls and inner walls of a a substantially Venturi-shape, that-is having a reduced intermediate dian'ietrical portion 'between V enlarged'endportionsl A pair ofcars are formed on opposite sides of the tube for receiving securing means 29 such as rivets or nuts and bolts. It

. isipreferable to dispose the, tube or'vent 28 on one of the corners of the cover II as shown in full controlled by a vane.

lines in Figure 1 when the windmill is of the type However, when it is of the type known as the vaneless-type the ventila ing means will be disposed on the, side of the cover toward the wind wheel as indicated by the'position of the vent 28a in dotted lines in Figure l. a

' .In the. operation of awindmill the housing 10 in which the mechanism and wind'wheel are mounted is movable with respectlto a tubular" stern'3D onwhich it is'm'ounted. The direction of itheair current controls the position of the. housing with, respect to its movement on the tubular supporting stem 30. If a vane is employed it i is normally held in the position shown 'at A.

Automatic regulation provides movement of the vane'about its pivot throughout the arc asi shown toprevent damage to. the millby'highwi'ndsf. By

' use of the-pull-out mechanism as illustrated at 300. the vane maybe swungcompletely through the are as shown. until it reaches the position 13 in which position the mill. is pulled entirely housing is indicated by the arrow Yf;

V operates.

out of the wind. When thevane is in the position A, the wind wheel is in the wind and the direction of the air current is indicated by the arrow X in Figure 1. When the wind wheelis pulled out of the windas by means of pulling the vane from its position A to its position B, the

direction of the air current with respect to the In both positions of operativeness and 'inoperativenessthe vent 28is so arranged on the cover preferably at the upper end thereof as to present the opening thereof in substantially the direction of the'travel of the windin all the positions of movement of the housing l0 so that the air currents always blow in the direction of the extension'of the tube away from the housing instead of directly into the opening of'the vent. By reason of the air currents passing the vent in this manner} and particularly where the vent is of a Venturi- 'shape, the air is deflected from its usual path and. we have found produces a partial vacuum at the mouth of the tube which insures a maximum effective ventilation within the enclosure, air, of course, finding its way into the cover through openings at the bottom of the enclosure as shown by the pro-jeotion of the tube 30 through which the pump rod When the vaneless-type rnill is employed, the f air current passes-iin the direction across'fthe cover in the direction of the arrow 2" before reaching the "windwheel; the windjwheel being drawn into and out'of; the wind by'r'eason of the the wind-Wheel so that the ventrwill not. face into the wind but the wind will pass by it to produce a r the. effect of a'va uum r w n a from t n.-

side of the cover as in the former illustration.

By' thus ventilating the enclosure u, the ternwell known in the art; In hi ins ance. the V n 1 28a is provided on the side Of the cover ll amines;

perature and pressure within, the enclosure is.

maintained substantially uniform with the out side temperatures and pressures and changesin temperature and pressurerwill be r CQ Ided within the enclosure at substantially the same time as they are recorded without the enclosure. 7 Cone the emulsification therewith of moisture were this ventilation not accomplished.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. .6 of the drawings, a vent 3! is provided'in the same revvlation with respect to the cover at the upper end thereof at one corner when a type of windmill employing a vane'is used and on one sideof the cover when thegvaneless-type of a. windmill other instances of use, the tubebeing brought more directly out of the top of thehousing and having its mouth carried to a? far corner where it will receivepfavorable aircurrents. in f all instances of 'usewith respect to the rotatabilit o'fthe housing on its tubular support, 7

' is'used; This ventilator'is'formed substantially V as shown'to' exclude the. possibility of rain being driven into the enclosure. In Fig. 7 another type t of tube is'em'ployed which maybe desirable, in

@Re ferring now more particularly to. Fig. 31 of the drawings, a trough v32 has been shown for draining'anymoisture which might. collect on the inside of the cover to theoutside of the enclosure.

This apparatus may be employed in association with theventilator 28 "or may 'be used in lieu I thereof to divert the condensation from the inside of the enclosure outwardly therefrom. The

trough 32 is formed preferably of a piece of sheet material having a vertically extending portion in a spaced relation with the wall of the cover and having a lower portion offset therefrom and secured by any of the usual securing means such as rivets or by welding to the lower end of the cover. The trough is preferably set at an angle with respect to the horizontal in order that but a single outlet 33 be employed for draining the condensate. It is to be understood that the trough may be employed as a precautionary means in addition to the ventilator or as a means in itself for preventing an accumulation of moisture within the enclosure to emulsify with the oil, its use being to divert the moisture from the enclosure rather than to prevent the formation of the moisture.

In connection with the use of the trough 32 it may be desirable to provide an insulating mate rial 34 for the upper end of the enclosure. Wherein the shape of the top of the enclosure is such as may preclude ready draining of moisture to the sides of the enclosure or where for any other purpose it is deemed desirable to insulate part of the enclosure it may be accomplished as illustrated, wherein the insulating material 34 is held against the top of the hood II by means of a thin plate 35 of light springy material.

As a result of this invention a method is provided for preventing the accumulation of moisture within the enclosure for automatically lubricated mechanisms including such water or water vapor or such phenomena as are commonly known as sweating, frosting and other forms of water vapor. By the ventilating means it is possible to maintain pressures and temperatures on the inside of the enclosure substantially uniform with those of the outside atmosphere. An apparatus is also provided for frost-proofing certain parts if desired. Also means are shown for the actual physical accumulation and draining off of moisture from within the enclosure. Any one or more of these means may be used singly or in combination to accomplish the desired results.

While several embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only to be limitl'id by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A windmill construction comprising an enclosed oil reservoir mounted to swing about a substantially vertical axis in accordance with the direction of the wind, and means for preventing the accumulation of moisture in said reservoir comprising an air outlet passage carried by said swinging reservoir and having its orifice facing toward the lee side of the reservoir.

2. A windmill construction comprising an enclosed oil reservoir mounted to swing about a substantially vertical axis in accordance with the direction of the wind, and means for preventing the accumulation of moisture in said reservoir comprising an air outlet passage carried by said swinging reservoir and leading from the lee side thereof and having its orifice facing toward the lee side of the reservoir.

3. A Windmill construction comprising an enclosed oil reservoir mounted to swing about a substantially vertical axis in accordance with the direction of the wind, and means for preventing the accumulation of moisture in said reservoir comprising an air outlet passage carried by said swinging reservoir and having its orifice facing toward the lee side of the reservoir, said outlet passage including a Venturi formation.

4. A windmill construction comprising an enclosed oil reservoir mounted to swing about a substantially vertical axis, in accordance with the direction of the wind, and means for preventing the accumulation of moisture in said reservoir comprising an air outlet passage carried by said swinging reservoir and leading from the upper part thereof and having its orifice facing toward the lee side of the reservoir.

5. A windmill construction comprising an enclosed oil reservoir mounted to swing about a substantially vertical axis in accordance with the direction of the Wind, means for preventing the accumulation of moisture in said reservoir comprising an air outlet passage carried by said swinging reservoir and leading from the upper part thereof and having its orifice facing toward the lee side of the reservoir, and an air inlet passage opening into said reservoir below the outlet passage.

6. A windmill construction comprising an enclosed oil reservoir having side walls and a top wall above the oil level, means for preventing the accumulation of moisture within said reservoir comprising means for collecting the moisture condensed on said side walls and conducting it to the outside of the reservoir, and heat-insulating means for the top wall to prevent moisture condensing thereon.

7. A windmill construction comprising a single enclosed chamber providing an oil reservoir in its lower part mounted to swing about a substantially vertical axis and having upwardlyextending walls above the oil level, a vertically reciprocating cross head for the pump rod operating in the upper portion of said chamber, transmission from the main shaft of the windmill to the cross head comprising a member extending into the oil in the reservoir, and means for preventing the accumulation of moisture in the oil in said reservoir comprising means for collecting the moisture condensed on said upwardly-extending walls and conducting it to the outside of the reservoir, said chamber having a substantially horizontal flat wall enclosing the upper part of the chamber, and heat-insulating means for said horizontal wall to prevent moisture condensing thereon, thus confining the condensation to the upwardly-extending walls.

8. A windmill construction comprising an enclosed oil reservoir mounted to swing about a substantially vertical axis in accordance with the direction of the Wind, and means for preventing the accumulation of moisture in said reservoir comprising an air outlet passage carried by said swinging reservoir and extending outwardly therefrom and having its orifice facing toward the lee side of the reservoir.

9. In a device of the class described, a speed reducing mechanism, a casing therefor having an opening at its lower part for the circulation of air, an operative connection from which power may be obtained operating through said opening, and a ventilator mechanism located at the upper part of the casing to permit free flow of air, and cooperating with the first named opening to'substantially displace the air in the casing due to atmospheric changes.

10. In a device of the class described, a casing having an opening providing access to the air near itsbottomp'art, a mechanism in the casing fortranslating rotary motion into reciprocating motion, arod'reciprocating through said openingandpperatively connected to said mechanism,

p and abreather aperture'i'n the upper part ofthe V casing whereby free flow of air through the easof the device will be lubricated, the upper portion of said enclosure surrounding'a' body of air, said casing having an opening ini its lower part; an operative connection for power passing through said opening. whereby air may obtain ingress and :egress to the casing through said opening; and around said operative connection, and a breather passage near thetopof' the easingv cooperatingwith said opening to provide free "flow of 'air to prevent accumulation of moisture.

12; A windmill having an enclosure for the working parts, the upper portion of said enclosure functioning to protect theworking parts of a Y the windmill from the elements, the lower por ftion; of said enclosure, constituting a lubricant 7 reservoir for the lubri'cation of the working parts F'b oi'the windmill; said enclosure h-avingjan opening at :the lower portion thereof; a :power 1 connection passing throughsaid opening ryet per,- mittingingress and egress ofgair through; the

ing a breathing passageway therethrough near the top cooperating with said opening to provide free flowof' air to prevent accumulation of: 'moisture; V c w 13. A device of the characterdescribed'having a driven shaft and a reciprocating rod and meche anism for translating the rotary motion of said driven shaft into rectilinear, reciprocatory motion of the rod,- a casing partially enclosing said mechanism and adapted to retain lubricant, said casing being provided with an opening in its lower part through which'the rod can recipro-' opening, the upper portion of said enclosure havcate, which opening will permit ingress and V egress of air to the casing, a rotatable tubular stem looselysurrounding" a portion of said rod and supporting.said'casingsaid tubular stelm'v terminating above theievel ofthe lubricant in the casing, in combination with a breatherpals sa-gewayin the upper part of the casing, cooper ating with the'opening to prevent moistureacpu:

rnulation in the casing by providing free flow ofaiiz JOHN GERHARDT, i

a CLYDEL'B: DEMVPSTERYV WARREN vv. 'WILLIAMS. 7 7 so 

